What we learned; Monday 2 September
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Here is a wrap of the main stories on:
Flights cancelled along the east coast, fire warnings in NSW, hail in Melbourne, and flooding in Tasmania as much of the country is hammered by wild weather;
Anthony Albanese says the government is considering watering down a proposal for a new independent environment watchdog in a bid to get the legislation through parliament;
Closing submissions are under way in the defamation case brought by the Liberal senator Linda Reynolds against her former staffer Brittany Higgins;
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has defended comments that the RBA is “smashing the economy”, saying he has been “making very similar points for some months now”;
An Indigenous teenager’s death in custody has been labelled a “terrible tragedy” by the prime minister, but the federal government will not intervene.
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra appears to have doubled down in a brewing legal battle with the concert pianist Jayson Gillham, whose performance was cancelled after a dedication on stage to Palestinian journalists who had died in the Gaza conflict.
We will see you back here tomorrow.
Updated
Sydney council loses court fight over inquiry, shutdown
A local council embattled by claims of widespread dysfunction has failed in a court bid to stop the NSW government appointing administrators and holding a public inquiry, AAP reports.
A damning interim report found problems with Liverpool city council’s recruitment processes, procurement irregularities and allegations of a toxic work environment.
Justice John Robson found the interim report had been published without procedural fairness to the council.
However, he rejected claims that the NSW minister for local government Ron Hoenig or the deputy secretary of the Office of Local Government Brett Whitworth showed actual or apprehended bias in releasing the report.
He dismissed the majority of the case and ordered submissions on costs.
Liverpool city council can appeal against the decision.
Updated
